He’s very dangerous and is going to be a handful. His left foot is amazing and the goals he’s scored have been from everywhere – headers, shots, volleys, all types

Gary Cahill

Instead, after shackling Lionel Messi, it’s another lethal striker up next for the Chelsea centre-half.

Cahill produced possibly his best ­performance ever to help the Blues muzzle Messi and Co. in their ­Champions League semi-final first leg at ­Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Things won’t get any easier at the Emirates today against Arsenal and their 34-goal hitman Robin van Persie.

Cahill, 26, said: “He’s very dangerous and is going to be a handful. His left foot is amazing and the goals he’s scored have been from everywhere – headers, shots, volleys, all types.

“He’s a different sort of challenge to Messi, who has a lower centre of ­gravity, with his pace and trickery, when he’s running at you.

“But Van Persie is no slouch. He’s sharp as well. He just shoots on sight, if he gets half a yard.”

Cahill will have to be at his best again to keep Dutch ace Van Persie in check, so facing Messi was ideal preparation.

And he’ll never forget taking on the ­Argentinian master in Chelsea’s ­famous 1-0 win.

He added: “There were numerous times when he’s walking past you as if he’s not bothered and you know it’s ­almost a disguise, because in the next phase of play he’s going to burst in ­behind.

“He darts in at you and you can’t seem to get the ball off him. It just seems to stick to him, it bounces into his path.

“Once there were four or five ­players around him, but we only just got a last-ditch tackle in.

“It was pleasing that defensively as a team we managed to tame them a bit. It was similar to the Spain game, where England had to soak up a lot of pressure and possession.

“I was more mentally tired when I got home than physically. Your concentration levels have to be so high.”

Had history taken a different course, Cahill could easily be admiring Van Persie today as a team-mate rather than agonising over how to stop him.

For a while last year, Cahill seemed destined to join Arsenal and end ­boss Arsene Wenger’s long search for a dominant centre-half.

Wenger even took advantage of ­England training at Arsenal’s ­London Colney base to run the rule over Cahill when the Three Lions were in town.

But the Gunners baulked at Bolton’s £17m asking price and Chelsea landed Cahill, whose Bolton deal was due to expire this summer, for around £10m less in January.

“I was sort of aware Arsenal were watching me, but they just couldn’t agree a fee,” said Cahill at the ­promotion of EA SPORTS’ UEFA EURO 2012 ­video game. “I’ve no idea if it was ­because they didn’t want to push the boat out a bit more.”

Once again, Wenger might regret his decision not to splash the cash.

Cahill has overcome a difficult start on and off the pitch – and seen the man who signed him, Andre Villas-Boas, get the sack – to keep top-four chasing Chelsea fighting on three fronts.

Many more games like Wednesday night and his £7m fee will start ­being described as a bargain.

Cahill said: “The first three or four weeks were difficult, with moving to a new club, selling your house, living in a hotel for three months. When a ­manager brings you in, he obviously likes you. When he goes, you do worry.

“It took me a few games to get into the team anyway and I’d hardly played for Villas-Boas when he went.

“So it took a while to settle down, but I feel I’ve done that now and my form has been good.

“These are the kind of games – against Barcelona and now going to the FA Cup Final – that I joined ­Chelsea to be a part of.

“I was at an age and stage of my ­career where I wanted to push on and play a part in this level of football.

“Arsenal are in good form, so it’s going to be tough.

“But we are fighting on three fronts and can’t ­afford to lose to the end of the season. That’s the goal we’ve set ourselves.”

Gary Cahill appears in EA SPORTS UEFA EURO 2012, which is available to download on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC from April 24. Visit www.ea.com/uk/football/euro12 for more information.